Machine for making paper cups.



S. D. WASHBURN. MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPER CUPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-15,19ll.

Patented May 21,1918.

3 SHEETSSHEETI wifre'e'aea'. l/cuevrfon. yi 2M Z; 3 ,fi'cozmell). Cl/ms/aeazva, a M L65 W I [M I" m A "fl 1n ozpvasc S. D. WASHBURN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPER CUPS.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. 15. I911.

Patented May 21,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. S. D. WASHBURN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPER CUPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15. I91].

Patented May 21,1918. 3 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 SAMUEL n. wasnnunn, or nononusrnn, MASSeoHUsE'r'rs.

' macnmn mm MAKING PAPER curs. v

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it knowntha'tfI,' SAMUEL D. WASH- BURN, a citizen of the United States, and

residing at Dorchester, county of Suffolk,

and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Machines for-Making Paper Cups, of Which'the-following description, inconnection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawinglrepresenting like parts.

This invention provides a machine for forming drinking cups or similar articles from paper. 'There is a large increasing demand for vessels, and particularly drinking cups, adapted for temporary and individual use and of such low,cost that they may be thrown away or destroyed after a sin 1e use. This is particularly true of drinking cups, and in the disclosure of the present invention the term cup will be used, although it is to be understood that any hollow 'vessel adapted to be made-by the machine of the invention is within the scope thereof.

It -is essential to a satisfactory cup that it shall be so made as to have a well d'efined shape and one that will be maintained during its use; that it shall not present sharp or irregular edges injuriousor uncomfort-able to the user; and that it shall be as cheap as possible.

The-machine of the present invention is devised to form cups ha the foregoing requirements. from'a paper I lank'in an exceedingly expeditious manner. The cups thus formed have the further advantage that they need not be formed until required for appear more full} ,in the accompanying description and drawings -and will heparbe formed directly from clean uncontaminated'pape Another. advantage of the invention resides in the fact that the cups may be made by the user, thus doing away with all the expense attendant upon the manufacture of the cups a factory and their delivery to the user.

In the formation of the cups three dies are used, one being a hollow die with a cylindrical edge, the second being a plunger Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented IWayQfi, 1918,

, Application filed March 15, 1911. Serial No. 614,581.

die adapted to. fit within the hollow die,

and the third being. a plunger fitting concentrically over; the main plunger die and adapted to turn-over the edge of the on and throw it back upon the body 'thereo The combination of these three dies to eifect this result is believed to be new, and the invention is, therefore, not limited to the particular mechanical devices for securing 'the relative movement of the dies in the without a determined ,eflort which breaks the paper. The disposition of the paper into these folds in the side walls and turned edge gives the cup a very substantial and 7 solid form so that it readily maintains its shape under use, and can be easily handled and placed'on atable when empty or when filled with liquid.

' The invention in its more specific form contains a number of mechanical features and these will be described more in detail in the specification.

The invention is particularly designed for producing a paper cup Or article such as is made. the subject of my Patent No. 1,065,486, granted June 24, 1913, for paper drinking cup.

The nature of the invention will, in fact,

ticularly defined in the appended claims. The drawings represent a machine embodying the invention and adapted for installation in any place where it 1s desired to make .use' of drinking cups.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine with the front of the casing removed 'to show the mechanism; I

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the actuator or handle by which theparts of the, device are operated;

Fi 3 is a vertical central cross section of the construction shown in Fig. 25

.Fig. 4 is a side elevation partially in c1 oss 'section of the construction shown in Fig.5-is a detail showing the track for a stud on the lower end of a rack bar to be described;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the lower portion of the device looking down from beneath the plunger dies;

Fig. 7 1s a detail in vertical cross section showing the lower hollow die and the bed plate;

Fig. 8-is an enlarged side elevation pariiially in cross section of the end of the es; 1 Fig. 9 is a plan of a portion. of the stri of paper from which the cups are forme Fig. 10 is a view looking down into one of the cups partially formed;

Fi 11 is a side elevation of the complete cu The chief feature of the invention resides in the three dies and the means for giving relative movement to these dies whereby the cup is formed with its edge turned over.

The particular mechanism for securing the proper relative movements of the dies and the particular position of the dies is not essential but it is desirable that the hollow die shall be mounted on a vertical axis and that the plunger dies shall be mounted vertically above the hollow die and have theirmovement toward and from the hollow die, and the construction is thus illustrated. It is also very important that the lines along which the paper shall'fold as it takes the conical form between the dies shall be irregular and unsatisfactory manner.- An

important feature of the invention lies in the means for defining the lines of fold of .the cup.

In order that the cups may be formed expeditiously and by unskilled persons it is desirable that there shall be combined with the forming dies means for positioning the a blank between the dies at the proper time and when; as is preferred, a continuous strip of paper is used that means shall be provided for severing the blank from the strip.

Preferred forms of mechanism for these purposes 'are herein disclosed and these mechanisms are so arranged that the entire apparatus is operated to form the cup com- ,plete without other attention than the single movement of an actuator. Such an actuator in the form illustrated is shown as a crank handle, and the construction is such that when a person asps the crank handle and gives it a turn t e blank will be fed between the plungers, severed from the end of the sheet the (plunger will be operated and the cup forme the various mechanisms returned to their original position.

Taking up now the construction illustrated in detail, the parts are shown as inclosed by a box or casing having the side walls 2 and the rear wall 3. The front of the casing is .leaving fingers or points.

' shape of the interior of the hollow over which the paper blank for the cup to p be formed is fed. This central aperture is beveled downwardly as indicated at 5 about- ,its periphery except at certain symmetrically-arranged points 6- (herein shown. as.

four in number) where it is not beveled, thus seen that the flat paper blank is supported by the bed plate-between the open dies over the opening and when the paper blank is depressed through this central opening the fingers 6' for initiating the lines of fold will insure the cup being formed with symmetrical folds. The symmetrically-disposed box plaits which are initiated by the fingers 6 It will .thus begive the substantial and solid form to the cup desired, and when the edgeof the up is downturned, these folds are so locke that it is impossible to destroy the shape of .the

cup by releasing the folds without a determined efi'ort. a

- The hollow die is located centrally beneath the aperture in the bed plate 4 and is shown at 7 supported on a brace 8 extending between the side walls of the casing. The interior of the hollow 'die takes'the general form of the exterior of the cup to be formed and this die has an upper'free edge 9 cylindrical in form, and the term cylindrical is used in a broad forms-not limited to circular, although the circular form is preferred. This edge is as thin as may be-and yet possess suflicient strength.

The cooperating plunger dies are mounted vertically above the hollow die and in the form shownthe plunger dies are moved toward and from the hollow die, the hollow die being fixed in position.

Themain plunger die 10 has the eneral ie and of the interior of the cup to be formed, and preferably is provided on its lower facewith a slightly roughened or other suitable surface to prevent the paper from slipping beneath it. This plunger die 10 has projecting upwardly therefrom a bar-12 and this bar is guided vertically in the end "of a bracket 130 projecting from the rear wall 3 of the casing.

The other plunger die 14 is arranged concentrically of the die 10 and consistssimply of an annular shell of suflicient. diameter to slide over the exterior of the hollow die 7 cup which is forced in between. This die 14 is interiorly beveled at its lower edge as shown at 15 to prevent it cutting or tearing the paper as it comes down to turn the edge of the cup over. This die 14 is carried by. two rods 16 connected at their lower ends to aaeaoes lugs 17 pro'ecting from the die and at their upper ends y a strut 18 sliding over the end 0 thebar12. v The movement of the plunger dies to and from the hollow die is secured in the form illustrated by a rack and gear and weight mechanism. 19 is a horizontal shaft extending through the side walls-of the casing and carrying a wide gear 20. The bar 12 is provided on its front face with a rack 13 adapted tomesh with the left hand side of the gear 20. The. strut s18 has depending.

therefrom a bar 21,-likewise rovided on its front face with a rack 22 a apted to mesh with the right hand side-of the gear 20. A

. pin 23 projects from the bar 12 over the strut 18. A flexible connection 24 is connected to the strut 18 and extends over pulleys 25 and 26 and has attached to its lower end a wei ht 27. An arm 28 projects up from the brac et 130 and is provided with an anti-friction roll 29 opposite the center of the gear 20., this anti-friction roll runningagainst the back of the bar 12.

It will be seen, therefore, that whenthe shaft 19 is turned 'the gear 20 intermeshing with the rack 12 will depress the plunger die 10 into cooperative engagement with the hollow die 7. During this movement by reason of the stud 23 the concentric plunger 'die 14 will be carried downwardly along with the die 10 but will have no action u on the paper. Upon the completion of he downward movement of the die 10 the rack 20 will then engage the rack '22 and im mediately depress the die 14. As the die 10 comes down it strikes-the blank of paper resting over the aperture in the bed plate 4. and depresses it into the hollow die, the fingers 6 defining the lines of fold of the paper so that as the paper oes down into the hollow die it takes the orm shown in Fig. 10, and as the die 10 reaches its lowermost osition the between it and the hollow die and stands m a generall conical form projecting" upwardly.- he die 14 then comes into action passing down inside of the cone of paper and turning the upper edge of the paper back.

over the edge 9 of the hollow die and back upon itself, the bevel 15 preventing the tear ing or cuttingof the paper, and the folded condition of the paper enablin it to be turned back. The cup when fina y formed presents the condition shown in, Fig. 11 and when a reasonable amount of pressure is used the paper will maintain its compact folded condition.

A great advantage of this on lies in the fact that no cement, glue, or ot er material is used other than the paper itself,'and that the paper is not handled from the-time it is placed in the machine until the time the cup aperis firmly pressed into s ape istaken out by the user. The series of symmetrically-disposed box plaits into which the-side walls of the cup are formed and pressed are also. of great advantage instrengthening the cup and enabling it to be locke its shape-as already pointed out. The folding back of the upper edge of the cup causes the edge of the completed cup to be sinooth, and at the same time prevents the unfoldin The blanks of paper from which the cups are formed are preferably circular in shape and when an automatic feed is to be used are preferably united into one long strip, a portion of which is shown in Fig.- 9 where 30 represents one complete blank and 31 and 32 portions of the adjacent connected blanks. The strip of paper is wound up into a roll 33 and mounted in the lower portion of the of the cup and enables it to be .filled wit water or other material and hold its sha casingl upon a shaft 34, a pin 35 serving to v lock t e shaft removably in place.

The strip of paper passes up between feeding rolls 36 and. 37 to the topof the bed plate and is fed by these rolls along the top of the bed plate over the central aperture therein and positioned thereoverby the gage 38 which is shown asa semi-annular rib pro:

ing from the side wall of the casing, and has free play in the bracket in the plane of the gear 39. At its lower end it is provided with a stud 42 slidin in a cam groove 43 of the general shapes own in Flg'. 5. This to the side wall of the casing, and has one vertical straight portion united by a curve at its lower end with an inclined portion.

105 cally and is'guided in a bracket 41 projectcam groove is formed ina block 45 attached.

The straight and inclined portions connect at their upperends where a spring switch 1 44 is located which normally occupies the position shown in Fig. 5 and directs the stud 42 down the vertical portion of the cam i groove and allows it upon its upper movement to slide from the inclined portion back into the vertical portion;

The rack bar 40 at its up or end is provided with anti-friction r0 s 46 and anapertured head.47.' A lever 48 fulcrumed at 49 to the side-wall of the casing extends between the anti-friction rolls 46 and is held normally elevated by the spring 50. A

spring 51 surrounds the lever 48 and presses 1 at one end against the apertured head 47 and at the other end against a collar 52 secured to the lever. A wiper cam 53 1s carried by the shaft 19 and actuates the said lever 48.

The operation. of the feeding mechanism will now be apparent. As the wiper cam strikes the lever 48 its end is depressed against the action of the spring 50, thus carrying down the rack bar 40 with. the stud 42 sliding down in the straight portion of the cam groove 43 and the actuation of the gear 39 on the feeding roll is consequently caused.

; When the stud 42 reaches the lower portion of the cam groove 43 the spring 51- forces the lower end of the rack bar to the left, looking at Figs. 4 and 5, and the stud 42 slides up in the inclined portion of the cam groove, the spring 50 turning the rack bar upwardly, and when the stud 42 reaches the upper end of the inclined portion of the cam groove it moves the switch 44 aside and continues on up. The result is that the feed rolls are not actuated during the upward movement of the rack bar.

It is necessary in using the strip of paper to sever the blank to be formed into the cup from the strip, andfor this purpose suitable cutting mechanism is provided. In theform shown, the bed plate is slotted at 54' and a knife 55 is mounted above the slot. This knife is fulcrumed at 56 and provided with and the strip is fed to brin shaft 19 is .rotated in one direction, and that "when their operations .are completed the weight 27 and the spring 50 act to restore the mechanisms to normal position ready for the next operation. In order to actuate .the shaft 191 a suitable actuatoris provided and in the form shown comprises a crank 61. If the crank were connected directly to the shaft it would, after havin been operated to feedand sever the bla released. It is desirable to provide a form of actuator which may always be movedin the -same direction, which will always be left in thesame position, and which will be incapable of being actuated farther than necessary to secure the complete formation of i the cup.

To secure these results the construction illustrated in detail in Figs. 2 and 3 is provided. In this construction the crank 61 is Y and form the cup, fly back into its original position when provided with a two-part clutch head, one .part 62 being secured by the pin 63 to the shaft 19 and the other part 64 being integral with the arm of the crank. The oppos ing surfaces of these heads have cooperating cam faces, as illustrated. The part 64 of the head slides freely on the shaft 19 and is normally pressed toward the part 63 by the coiled spring 65. This spring is inclosed in the part 64 by a thimble 66 which bears against a pin 67 secured in the shaft 19. A cam faced hub 68 is secured by screws 69 to the side wall of the casing concentrically to the part 62, and a rib 70 projecting from tge 1part 64 coiiperates with the cam face on t e during the movement of the crank 61 to secure the operation of the various mechanisms the clutch faces of the parts 62 and 64 are engagement, but as soon as this movement ceases the cam face cooperatingwith the rib'70 forces the clutch members apart, and they do not again come into engagement. until the handle is in position to secure the next operation. This allows the mechanisms to be returned to their normal positions by the spring and the weight without in any way affecting the operation of the handle or causing it to be reversely rotated.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

ub 68. This cam face is so shaped that- 1. A machine for forming cups from paper comprising a hollow cylindrical edged die, a pair of concentrically-arranged plunger. dies adapted to fit respectively within and over said hollow die, means for giving relative movement to said dies first to cause the inner plunger die and hollow die to coiiperate to shape thepaper blank into cup form and next to cause the outer plunger die to cooperate with the hollow die to turn the edge of. the cup over, and

means for initiating symmetrically the lines 'of fold of the blank as the said dies act thereonso as to form a series of diametrically-disposed boxlaits.

- 2. A machine f dr forming cups from paper. comprising a hollow cylindrical edged die, a pair of concentrically-arranged plunger dies adapted to fit respectively within and over said hollow die,.means for supporting a flat paper blank between the said hollow die and the said pair of plunger dies when the dies are in open position means for giving relative movement to said die, a pair ofconcentrically -arranged lunger dies adapted to fit respectively Evitlun and over said hollow die, means for giving relative movement to said dies first to cause the inner plunger dieaand' hollow .die to coiiperate' to shape the paper blank into cup; form and .next to cause the outer plunger die to cooperate with the hollow die.

supporting a flat a er blank between the said hollow die an e said pair of plunger 'dies when the dies are in open position,

means for giving relative movement to said diesvfirst topause' the inner plunger die and hollow die to coiipe 'ate-to shape the paper- "blank 'into cup form and next to cause the outer plunger die to codperate with the hollow die to turn the edge of the cu over,

actuator, connections between sai dies and said actuator whereby. upon the actuation of the said actuator the cooperative movements ofthei several dies are secured to form the cup, and mechanism actin thereupon to release the dies to open position. v

5. A machine for forming cups from paper comprising ahollow cylindrical edged'die,- a pair of concentrically-arranged plunger dies adapted to fit respectively witlnnand over said hollow die, means for giving relative-movement to said dies first permit 1: em to return to to cause the inner plunger die and hollow die to cooperate to shape-the paper blank into cup form and next to cause the outer plunger die to 006 erate with the hollow die to turn the edge 0 the cup over, an actuator, connections between said dies and saidactuator whereby'upon the actuation of said actuator'the" cooperative movements of the several dies are secured to form the cup and the'dies are then released to return to'open position, and means for preventing. movement of the actuator upon the return of the dies to open position.

6.. A machine for fgrifiing cu s d paper compnsmg a a o ow cy ri edged die,-a pair of concentricallyplunger dies adapted to fit respectively within-and over said hollow die, means for giving relative movement to said dies first to cause the inner; plunger die and hollow die to cooperate toshape the paper blank into cup form and next to cause the outer -'p die to coiiperate with the anger hollow die to turn the edge of the cup over,

an ing cylindrical u on itself, a'rack bar connected to the T transmitted to the-second b t .peegldently of the first, and a l.

ied

means for feeding the end of a strip of .paper" into position between the dies, and

means for save a blank from the end of the strip when m position.

7. A machine for forming cu s from paper comprising a hollow 0y drical edged die, a reciproca plunger die adapted to fit within the ollow die and form the cup from the blank, a reciprocating cylindrical lunger die mounted concentrically of saidfirst die and adapted to pass'over the hollow die to turn the edge of the cup over'upon itself, means for sup ortmg a flat paper blank between the sa1 hollow 'die and the said pair of plunger dies when the dies are in open osltion, means for bringing said plunger low die, and separate means for restoring said plunger dies to open position upon the completion of the movement of the cylindrical' plunger die.

' 8, A machine edged die, adapted to lunger die mounted concentrically of said first die and adapted to pass over the hollow die to turn the edge of the cup over upon itself, means for bringing said plunger dies into operation successively in connection with said hollow die, feeding devices to feed the end of a strip of paper into position bett'een the dies, cutting mechanism to sever a blank from the end of the strip, an actuator and connections there from; to said dies, feeding devices, and cutting mechanism whereby upon a single movement of .said actuator the feeding mechanism, cutting mechanism, and dies are operated in proper sequence. i

9. A machine for forming cups from'paper comprising a hollow cylindrical edged die, a reciprocating inner plunger adapted "to fit within the hollow die and form the cup from the blank a reciprocating outer cylindrical plun er said inner 'e and adapted to pass over the hollow die to turn the edge of the cup over inner p ungerdi asecond v- .bar conn es into 0 era- 1 tion successlvely in connection with sai hol-- a reciproca lunger die fit within th d fioll ow die and tom the cup from the blank, a reciprocatfor forming cups from paper comprising -a hollow cylindrical e mounted concentrically of the outerp ungerdi e and having its teeth continuing above the teeth: of the first rack bar, a connection between said rack bars caus-;

ing downward movement of the first to be downward movement of the second indje c ha :1 th at; mesh w1- the tee of 'tting both rack brs whereby upon rotation of the gear the inner plunger die will first be mov 1 into cooperation with the hollow die an next the outer plunger die will be into cooperation with the hollow disa centrically of said inner die and adapted to pass over the hollow die to turn the edge of the cup over upon itself, a rack bar con,-

nected to the inner plunger die, a second rack bar connected to'the outer plunger die and having its teeth continuing above the teeth of the first rack bar, a connection between said rack bars causing downward movement of thefirst to be transmitted to the second but permitting downward movement of the second independently of the first, and a gear having its teeth arranged to mesh with the teeth of both rack bars whereby upon rotation of the gear the inner plunger die will first be moved into cooperation with the hollow die and next the outer plunger die will be moved into cooperation with the hollow die and means for restoring both plunger dies to open osition.

paper comprising a hollow cylindrical edged die, a pair of concentrically-arranged plunger dies adapted to fit respectively within and over said hollow die, the outer plunger die having an interior bevel at its lower edge, means for supporting a flat paper blank between the said hollow die and the said pair of plunger dies when the dies are in open position, and means for giving relative movement to said dies first to cause the inner plunger die and hollow die to cooperate to shape the paper blank into cup form and next to cause the outer plunger die to cooperate with the hollow d1e to turn the edge of the cup over.

12. A' machine for forming cups from Q paper comprising a hollow cylindrical edged edge, and means for giving relative movedie, a pair of concentrically-arranged plunger dies adapted to fit respectively within and over said hollow die, the outer plunger die having an interior bevel at its lower ment to said dies first to cause the inner plunger die and hollow'die to cooperate to I next to cause the outer plunger die to cooperate with the hollow die to turn the edge u o the cup over, and means for initiatin symmetricall the lines of fold of the bla as the said ies act thereon so as to form .shape the paper blank. into cup form and a series of symmetrically disposed box plaits',

--13. A machine for forming cups paper comprising a'hollow cylindrical edged die, a pair of concentrically-amen ed plum ger dies adapted to fit respective y wlthin and over said hollow die means for giving relative movement to said dies first to cause the inner plunger die and hollow die to coop"? crate to shape the paper blank into cup formand next to cause the outer plunger die te cooperate with the hollow die to turn edge of the cup over, a bed plate to suppert the paper blank and an aperture to permit the passage of the dies, a plurality of syn metrically-arranged projecting points at the edge of said aperture for engaging sym metrically the lines of fold of the blank-as the said dies act thereon so as to form a series of symmetrically disposed box plaits. 11. A mac ine for forming cups from from 14. A machine for forming cups from paper comprising a hollow cylindrical edged die, a pair of concentrically-arranged plunger dies adapted to fit respectively within and over said hollow die, means for giving relative movement to said dies first to cause the inner plunger die and hollow die to cooperate to shape the paper blank into cup form and next to cause the outer plunger die to cooperate with the hollow die to turn the edge of the cup over, a bed plate to support a flat paper blank between the said hollow die and the said pair of plunger dies when the dies are in open p0sition,-an aperture tov SAMUEL D. WAS'HBURN,

Witnesses:

JonN G. EDWARDS, LEONA CHANDLER.

Correction Letters Patent l,266 -64'4.

' Signed and sealed thlsl 18th day of Jung-A. D., 1918.

' It is hereby certified that in Letters .Patent No.11,266,'644, granted May 21,

1918, upon the applicotion of Samuel D. Washburn, of Dorchester, Massachusetts,

for an improvement in Machines for Making Paper Cups, an error appears in the 'printed specification. requiring correction as follows: Page 4, lines 111-112,

clja im- 1, for the compound word diametrically-disposed read symmemlcall'ydisposed; ahdthat the said Letters Potent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

[S -l F. w. 1-1'. CLAY,

A sting Commissioner of Patents. 

